Each Other

By breeze

Hermione Granger knew many things. She was a person of knowledge and reason, someone you could count on to do the right thing. Was kissing Draco Malfoy the right thing? No, in her heart of hearts, she knew nothing could be more wrong. She somehow knew the two of them together would only be difficult. But what else did she have? Her friends could not run with her forever, no one should live that life unless required. Her parents knew nothing about the dangers that followed her. He was the only one, the only person in this world, and she knew in her heart of hearts that she would hold onto him with every bit of her soul.

For love? Maybe. But mostly for the fact that no one wants to be alone. Maybe that's why, in this moment, she is letting him kiss her. Maybe that's why, in this moment, she is wanting him to kiss her. Make her blind, let her forget, wash away all prophecies and fortuneteller's warnings. And it was working.

Perfectly.

Her hands pulled on his neck, his gliding down her shoulders. Their mouths danced, fighting for something more. Both wanted so much, both took from another. And somehow she knew, they had been right. Everyone. She may not love him now, but she could. Somehow in between the bantering, fighting, running, and glaring, she could fall in love with him. Desperately in love. The kind of love that makes girls like her run for the hills. The kind of love that she used to avoid, wanting a career, something more. But as his hand slid down her back, she realized nothing else could make her feel this way. And she only kissed him harder.

And then something happened that was not expected. They were caught off their guard, surprised and surrounded within a second. Their lips parted, and she looked at them, all of them, and one stood out among the others. He looked like the man she had been kissing. His hair blond, his eyes gray, yet Draco stood apart from his father. Draco had never been to Azkaban. Draco had never been in hiding. And Draco had never been evil. His father smirked, and elegantly pulled out his wand, not missing a beat. She only stared, silently wishing she would wake up from this nightmare. But the squeeze Draco had just given her hand let her know she was wide awake.

"Ah, dear son, what a pleasure it is." His voice was so calm. Draco didn't flinched, merely returned the smirk.

"Ah, dear father, why aren't you dead?" he said, without missing a beat.

"Oh, Draco, you should know, we Malfoys are full of surprises." He looked towards Hermione and sneered. "Is this the girl?" He was so casual about it. Draco nodded. "How disappointing. I would have at least thought you chose a mudblood with the family features." Draco opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.

"Well, he looked and looked, but a blond just wasn't in the cards," she shot back.

"Aw, Miss Granger, still fiery after all these years, I see." He was talking down to her.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, and you're still evil. Some things never change," she retorted.

"What you consider evil is what is right," he growled.

"What you consider right is lunacy." Draco squeezed her hand again as his voice filled her ears. The man looked back towards his son and lightly laughed.

"Well. Draco, you were always one for Harry Potter's sloppy seconds." At this, Draco tried to pull his hand away and attack his father. But she didn't let go. She held onto him and pulled him back. His eyes looked at her and she silently pleaded with him, hoping he would understand. They wanted them separated. Wanted them to let their guard down. After a second, he looked back towards his father and smirked.

"You know, Father, it has been a quick visit, and I hate to run but we have children to go make." He took her other hand. "Something about interfering with Voldemort's twentieth comeback or something." She closed her eyes as he spoke. She heard him call their wands and a loud crack. And they were gone.

She opened her eyes and didn't see him. She looked down and saw her wand tucked roughly into her waistband and pulled it out. She looked around again. Was he thinking the same place? He had to have been; where else could he have gone? And, with a loud crack behind her, she turned to see him appear from thin air. She looked at him and smiled. And suddenly he was hugging her.

In the middle of a deserted street in London where they had first started believing it could all be true. The early morning light shone lightly through the clouds, and a few lights turning on in different apartments. He held her for a long time before she started shaking from the chill in the air. He pulled away and looked around.

"There has got to be a place to stay."

"We have no money, no clothes, Draco." Her teeth lightly chattered as she spoke. He looked at her and smirked.

"The Leaky Cauldron," he said before grabbing her hand and leading her down the street. They walked in silence for a few seconds before she finally spoke.

"This changes everything, you know." He didn't look at her, only kept walking.

"I know." His voice was small.

"I mean, your father, he—he won't rest until we're—separated." She stumbled her words lightly.

"I'm sure he will squeeze in a nap or two." He turned a corner and glanced around.

"Not funny," she said quietly. He stopped looking and turned his attention towards her.

"Granger, we are the ones running the show, not him," he said it so flatly.

"How? We are the ones running for our lives here."

"Didn't you see his face when I mentioned our children? It changed." She rolled her eyes.

"Your father has three facial expressions. Smirk, sneer, and grimace." He shook his head.

"No, he was caught off guard. I don't think he knew how caught up with him we might just be." His eyes traveled down to their hands, their fingers still entwined. "I don't think he knew our relationship would progress so fast." She followed his eye line and nodded, now understanding. "And now that we're ahead…"

"We are going to keep it that way," she finished. He looked down at her and smiled.

"You really are quick, Granger." He looked around again, obviously confused. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward their destination.

"I also have a keen sense of direction, Malfoy." He followed her closely, his hand never leaving hers. She walked down one more street before opening a door and entering the Leaky Cauldron. The moment they stepped foot into the building. all eyes were on them. They stopped as everyone stared at them for a long moment. Their faces were well know. Their being together was so unlikely. Hermione's eyes searched the smoky room for a familiar face, and she felt herself jump for joy when they came upon an older, red-headed man. "Mr. Weasley," she practically squealed. The others in the room went back to their conversations as the man smiled and made his was towards the due. She let go of Draco's hand and wrapped her arms around the welcomed face.

"Aw, Hermione, what are you doing here. Last I heard you were in Spain." His voice was so warm. She felt like crying, but instead pulled back and smiled at him.

"We were, but, well, we had a few set backs," she answered.

"We?" he asked, his eyes now on Draco.

"Oh yes. Mr. Weasley, you know Draco Malfoy." She lightly touched Draco's shoulder and nudged him forward. He seemed unsure at first before he held out a hand to shake. Mr. Weasley smiled and pushed it away, opting to hug him instead.

"Thank you for keeping her safe, Mr. Malfoy." He let go and laughed. "If not, Ron and Harry would probably kill you." Draco smirked at her.

"Story of my life sir," he coldly said. The man chuckled before turning his attention towards the brunette again.

"Mr. Weasley, I was wondering, could we borrow some money just for a room and some robes? We got in a situation and had to make a run for it. We will pay you back later today at the Ministry." Hermione hated to ask, but since the Weasley children had grown up and moved on, they were much more comfortable than in the past, especially with the success of Fred and George's joke shop.

"Of course you can. I'll go get you two rooms right now." He turned to talk to the innkeeper.

"One room," she said quickly. He turned to face her again, and her cheeks flushed. "We umm, we have to stay together." The elder man seemed to blush to before nodding and walking away. Hermione turned back towards Draco, who was now smirking. "What?" She glared at him.

"The thought of sharing a room still makes you blush, does it?" She reached out and punched him.

"No, you mumble in your sleep." He rubbed his shoulder and glared back.

"You snore," he shot back. She smiled brightly.

"I know." Her voice was as sweet as could be.